You know I love a project, right? For the past few years, I’ve taken on daily projects: the 2015 Postcard Project, in which I created and mailed 365 postcards around the world; the 2017 Stitch-a-Day Project, which had me embroidering a free-form sampler every day; my 2018 Remarkable People Project, where I’m drawing (on a postcard, natch) and reading about someone remarkable every day.

Starting on April 3, I’m embarking on a shorter-term project as part of the awesome #100dayproject movement. I’m calling it 100 Unconstrained Days. Each day, I’ll look for an image or idea that represents “unconstrained” to me, and I’ll translate it into a sketch. I’m so used to working on postcards that I’ve considered using them, but I probably will vary materials a bit more. I’ve been doing some work to free myself from some constraints I feel, and I’m excited to see how this helps me. Art therapy for the win!

Are you participating? If so, let me know how to find you on Instagram. I’ll be using the hashtag #100unconstraineddays and hope you check it out!

November is a pretty great month in my world. I get to celebrate my sister’s birthday. The semester is on the slide to winter break (and students who slacked in October suddenly wake up and try harder). Thanksgiving brings one of my favorite celebrations of the year.

And then.

And then: Craft Friday. A few years back, I declared my rebellion against Black Friday. Instead of shopping, you’ll now find me crafting on the day after Thanksgiving. Want to join in? Over the next two weeks I’ll be sharing resources and ideas. Be sure to tell me about your Craft Friday plans!

Looking for inspiration? Check out my Craft Friday Pinterest board (and ask to join if you want to add to it!).

We’ve been spoiled this autumn with mild temps. Today was the first really chilly morning when I hiked with Oskar. Kind of wishing I’d made knitting a pair of fingerless mitts a summer priority! The forecast shows temps dropping like a stone tossed from a bridge, which makes me pretty grateful Neal spent a lot of time chopping and stacking wood this spring!

Time to break out all the hygge goodness–candles, fireplace, cozy pjs, tea, knitting…what says hygge to you?

P.S. A Very Hygge Thing to me is Craft Friday…which is just around the corner! Stay tuned to read all about it!

When I was in my early 30s I found out I had borderline high cholesterol. It was a wake up call to get more deliberate about my health, and I paid attention. I lost about 35 pounds and changed my eating habits. One habit stuck with me for about 16 years…almost every day I ate the same cereal breakfast.

I like routines, especially routines that make mornings easier. So when I started the Whole Life Challenge and saw that cereal was non-compliant, I freaked a little. I’ll be honest. I sort of depend on eating that same breakfast every day. It frees me to think about other things when I’m freshly awake.

A friend suggested I replace it with compliant oatmeal, which I scoffed at, having always found myself hungry not long after eating oatmeal. But then I caved. I bought a tin of steel cut oats.

And I was hooked. Reader, I married him have a new breakfast! Here’s how I make it– and it’s nearly as easy as pouring a bowl of cereal! The key thing: I make it in the crock pot–4.5 cups of water to 1 cup of steel cut oats. I put it on high for two hours (at about 9 p.m.), and then turn it down to warm for the rest of the night. This makes four servings, so I only have to do it twice a week.

To make it seem like a real treat, I chop up an apple and sauté in a little coconut oil (good fat, yo) with a generous sprinkle of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves over it. I add a tablespoon of pumpkin seeds (zinc, yo) to my bowl, pour on the oatmeal, top it with warm apple, drizzle on a little cashew milk.

A FaceBook friend mentioned back in September that she was going to participate in the Whole Life Challenge for the next eight weeks, and was I interested in playing along? As long-time readers know, I am always game for a project.

Halfway into the challenge, I started an elimination diet in an effort to reset my system and see if I could make some dietary changes to alleviate a few minor health issues.

Both of these challenges are coming to a close this week. I’ve given up coffee, alcohol (the easiest one for me), nightshades, gluten, dairy, chocolate (the second easiest). Not since I became a vegetarian in 1998 have I navigated so many changes in my eating habits. It’s been really good for my health (the motivation for increasing water consumption, as well as getting to bed at an earlier hour), and shaking up my eating habits has felt like a spring cleaning and like I’ve managed to make eating more fun.

I’m considering making the no-coffee a permanent thing. I’m not sure just yet. I’m over the cravings and headaches, but I miss the ritual.

How about you? What have you changed in your diet lately that’s made you feel better?

Yesterday was the first pick up for my fall / winter CSA share. A long-time local pal turned me on to this CSA last year, and in the few weeks since my summer CSA ended, I’ve been moping around waiting for it to start.

We’ve improved our cold storage for squash and root veggies since losing a bit of produce last winter. We’re going to need more storage at this rate, though! How do you handle cold storage?

One of my favorite things about CSAs, no matter what season? Sharing the produce with my dear MIL and having her say, “that carrot (or tomato or onion or peach) tasted like a real carrot (or tomato or onion or peach).” I just love sharing the pleasure of locally, organically grown veggies with her!